Cap Town - The Vodacom Blue Bulls beat the Border Bulldogs 45-26 at Buffalo City Stadium in East London Saturday in an entertaining Currie Cup Qualification match which produced nine high-class tries, seven to the visitors and two to the Bulldogs.
It was a game of contrasts with Border taking their shots at goal every time they were awarded a penalty, but the Blue Bulls taking a lineout each time, often when thee points were virtually assured.
Border started like a house on fire, and after three minutes when right wing Sipho Nolemele jinxed his way past a number of defenders and barged over in the left-hand corner.
Fullback Logan Basson added the two points with a brilliant kick from the touchline which just had sufficien t legs to go over.
There were plenty of errors from both sides, with a number of intercepts leading to tries and on a number of occasions gaping holes in both defences were obvious.
For the Blue Bulls, flank Tapiwas Tsomondo had a storming game, while their fullback Divan Rossouw had an enterprising game, not being afraid to kick the ball into the box and follow up.
In fact both fullbacks played well. For the Bulldogs, Basson had his kicking boots on and succeeded with four penalties as well, one from 50 metres out smack in the middle of the field.
So for the Bulldogs, two tough matches await them, They play Western Province at Newlands next Saturday and then host the Free State XV at home on July 23.